Linux Which filesystem? 2TB partition from both win32 and *nix...

Right, I need a filesystem that:

- can have hyowge partitions (conceivably up to 2.5TB, depending on what drives I go for in my array when I replace the current 160s, but a 2TB max will do)(have had problems with large partitions on FAT32, even though it technically supports 2TB iirc )

- is R/W accessible from both win32 and *nix (probably solaris, maybe linux)

Does such a thing exist?

alternatively, has anyone used the ntfs/ext3 extensions for linux/windows with any luck?

 

As I'm sure you know, NTFS reading is possible in Linux, but only limited writing (IIRC you can only overwrite existing files: no new files, no new directories).

FAT, obviously has the size limits, so the only option I know of is the EXT2/3 drivers for Windows. These seem to be quite good, lacking a few features (notably you don't get the journalling support in Windows), and EXT2/3 isn't exactly a high performance filesystem (unlike JFS/XFS, etc, which I would think would be best).

Can't remember Solaris filesystem support though, sorry!

 

Would be using Solaris 10 -> ZFS

 

For a partition of that size I would be looking at XFS. But no way ist going to be read by windows. I hope you have some redundancy as well.

 

you're joking, right?

I believe I'm one of, if not the most paranoid person here

 

Was just making sure. If you look I am also running a raid 5 as a backup and storage server for my mac. Can I ask why you need this huge array readable by both linux and windows?

 

well with nottingham's current crime rating all that data needs securing

 

It has just about everything I've got on it.
I plan to start using solaris or linux for a general purpose OS and swapping to windows for gaming.

I don't live in nottingham properly, its a posh bit just outside

 

Could I surgest getting a cheap mobo and case and using that as a file server and mount the drive over the network. It works very well and is OS independant.

 

you mean have the array on a cheap mobo+case?

The array is staying local, I don't have a £500 RAID card to bottleneck it through gigabit or throw it in a crappy system.

I'll just experiment with different filesystems and their repective drivers for the "other" OS

 

http://forums.bit-tech.net/showpost.php?p=1247369&postcount=9

 

I usually just use paragon partition manager. pro was about 150 us. thoug, I only have version 5.. think 6 is out now, maybe even 7!
It also doubles as a very handy partition manager, etc.

 

If you're only using Windows for gaming, can you not have a separate drive for the windows install, and only have game files on it (nothing to be paranoid about)? That would remove the need to have windows support on the file system on the large array.

 

The games live on the array not because of paranoia, but because up to 300MB/sec of sustained transfer does wonders for loading times

I'm giving the NTFS bits from gentoo a play (got rid of solaris on this rig, not enough non-sun hardware support)

 

Go with reiser, very fast, and with your raid should be even faster...

 

Care to tell us how to access it from Windows?

 

I'll get back to you on that.

Why use windows anyway? I have everything I want, even my games, running on Linux. Went from idiot to got it done in 4 days. Ubuntu ***.

I really will see if you can do that with a program, though...

 

So you suggest a filesystem for which support within windows is patchy at best, and then question why I'm using windows in the first place?

Good for you that everything you want will run under linux, however that is not the case for me.

Thank you for being so helpful

 

You could try looking into paragon, but it does cost a bit of money. Considering you have the best hardware and such I doubt it will be an issue
Paragon mounts ext2 (and ext3) partitions. Though journaling is not supported on release 5.5 I think the newer 6 has it.

Though, if there is something free I'd like to know as well. As I have a laptop and desktop I'd like to use this on. Though I might just move over to a cluster for my main rig. (I've got a few spare high end computers doing nothing but collect dust. I just need some gigabit NICs and a gigabit switch. Should make a fun project )

EDIT: Don't think I ever mentioned this before, but I love the av

 

Will give it a look, though I'm having a bit of luck mounting NTFS in gentoo.

I've been having a look in to clusters as well, have 8 UltraSPARC boxes to play with. Have you played with them much? I was under the impression that a cluster wouldnt really be suited to a desktop environment.